TABLEAU - T35u-RW Kit - T35u USB 3.0 Forensic SATA/IDE Bridge Kit

Digital forensics investigators face a critical challenge: preserving the integrity of evidence while accessing data from legacy and modern storage devices. The Tableau T35u-RW Forensic Bridge Kit solves this by providing a hardware-based write-blocking solution that ensures suspect drives remain unaltered during acquisition. With support for both SATA and IDE interfaces and USB 3.0 connectivity, this kit enables fast, reliable, and forensically sound data collection from a wide range of drives.

Who is it for

This kit is engineered for digital forensic examiners, law enforcement agencies, corporate security teams, and eDiscovery professionals who require a portable, court-defensible tool for imaging hard drives, SSDs, and optical media. It is equally valuable for IT technicians who need a versatile drive adapter for non-forensic tasks, thanks to its switchable read/write mode.

Main features

• Hardware-based write protection: Ensures 100% read-only access to suspect drives, preventing accidental modification of evidence.
• Dual interface support: Connect SATA (Serial ATA) and IDE (PATA) drives, including 2.5-inch, 3.5-inch, and optical drives.
• High-speed USB 3.0: Achieve data transfer rates up to 200 MB/s, significantly reducing imaging time.
• Switchable read/write mode: For non-forensic use, easily toggle to read/write mode to use the bridge as a standard adapter.
• Comprehensive kit: Includes all necessary cables, power supply, and a soft-sided carrying case for field deployment.
• LED status indicators: Clearly display power, host activity, device activity, and write-block status at a glance.
• Broad compatibility: Works with Windows, macOS, and Linux, and integrates with leading forensic software such as EnCase, FTK Imager, and Tableau Forensic Imager.

Specifications

• Host interface: USB 3.0 (backward compatible with USB 2.0)
• Device interfaces: SATA (Serial ATA), IDE (PATA)
• Write protection: Hardware-based, read-only (switchable to read/write)
• Maximum data transfer rate: Up to 200 MB/s
• Supported drive types: HDD, SSD, optical drives (CD/DVD/Blu-ray)
• Supported operating systems: Windows, macOS, Linux
• Power supply: Tableau TP2 (included)
• LED indicators: Power, host activity, device activity, write block status
• Enclosure material: Aluminum
• Compliance: FCC, CE, RoHS
• Firmware upgradable: Yes
• Hot-swap support: Yes (for device connection)
• Bridge dimensions: 137 x 83 x 32 mm (5.4 x 3.25 x 1.25 inches)

Tips

Always verify the write-block status LED before connecting a suspect drive to ensure forensic integrity. For optimal performance, connect the bridge to a USB 3.0 port and use the included TP2 power supply when working with 3.5-inch drives or optical media. Keep the firmware updated via Tableau's official utility to maintain compatibility with new drive technologies.